The Gay Agenda: It's Dividing the Family, the Church, and a Nation [Hardcover]

Dr. Ronnie W. Floyd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2004

ò Can we still love people in this lifestyle, but hate the sin? ò Does the Bible say anything about gay clergy? ò What impact is this agenda having on the traditional American family? ò What impact will this agenda have on our nation? ò What about activist judges and the proposed marriage amendment?

Editorial Reviews

Review

A bold defense of traditional marriage and the authority of the the Scripture relating to this movement. -- Joanna Swift, Production Secretary, 2004

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: New Leaf Press; First Printing edition (June 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892215828
• ISBN-13: 978-0892215829
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,496,805 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BIOGRAPHY
DR. RONNIE W. FLOYD
Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Springdale and The Church at Pinnacle Hills, AR


Born: Ronnie W. Floyd, November 11, 1955, Gonzales, Texas

Married: Jeana Floyd on December 31, 1976

Children: Josh and wife, Kate: Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Shiloh Christian School in Northwest Arkansas. Nick and wife, Meredith: Associate Pastor-Preaching Assistant, First Baptist Church of Springdale and The Church at Pinnacle Hills

Grandchildren: Peyton Elliott, born to Josh and Kate on September 22, 2005, Reese Caroline, born to Nick and Meredith on May 24, 2007, Parker Thomas, born to Josh and Kate on August 8, 2007, Beckham Grant, born to Nick and Meredith on November 19, 2009 and Jack Bailey Floyd, born to Josh and Kate on June 8, 2010

Speaking:

Featured preacher on "Ronnie Floyd" television program, reaching into Northwest Arkansas through Family 45 and an ABC affiliate.

Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conferences - 1988, 1993,1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2006

Sunday a.m. worship service is broadcast live worldwide via the Internet on www.fbcs.net or churchph.com

Southern Baptist Convention Sermon in New Orleans Super Dome - 1996

Featured speaker at state evangelism conferences, pastor's conferences, state conventions, national prayer and fasting conferences, and church growth conferences across the country

Promise Keepers "Stand in the Gap" in Washington, DC - 1998; preached to an estimated 1.2 million men

Promise Keepers Stadium Rally Speaker 1998 - 2001

700 Club-- 1996, 1997, 2000

Focus on the Family - 1996, 1997, 2000

Featured on front page of The New York Times, February 8, 1998.

First Baptist Church - Springdale was the featured "Church of the Week" on the 700 Club, on July 24, 2000

Participates and speaks at Global Pastors' Network Conferences

Impact 21; for owners of professional sports teams

Education:

Doctor of Ministry, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1983

Master of Divinity, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1980

Bachelor of Science, Howard Payne University, May, 1978

Honorary Doctorate in Sacred Theology, Southwest Baptist University, 1990

Distinguished Alumni Award, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004

Books:

Coping With Life in a Confused World, 1988

Reconnecting, Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1993

Storming Hell's Gates, (video series), Broadman & Holman, 1994

Choices, Broadman & Holman, 1994

The Meaning of a Man, Broadman & Holman, 1996

God's Gateway to Supernatural Power, A Resource, Testimony, and Practical Guide on Prayer and Fasting, LifeWay Christian Resources, 1996

The Power of Prayer and Fasting, Broadman & Holman, 1997

How To Pray, Word Publishing, May, 1999

Life On Fire, Word Publishing, October, 2000

Family Life Illustrated For Men, New Leaf Press, Summer, 2004

Family Life Illustrated For Women, New Leaf Press, Summer, 2004

Family Life Illustrated For Marriage, New Leaf Press, Summer, 2004

Family Life Illustrated For Teens, New Leaf Press, Summer, 2004

Family Life Illustrated For Finances, New Leaf Press, Summer, 2004

Family Life Illustrated For Parents, New Leaf Press, Summer, 2004

The Gay Agenda: It's Dividing the Family, the Church, and a Nation,
New Leaf Press, Summer, 2004

Finding The Favor of God, New Leaf Press, 2005

10 Things Every Minister Needs to Know, New Leaf Press, September 2006

The Power of Prayer and Fasting, revised & expanded, Broadman & Holman, Dec 2009

Offices Held in the Southern Baptist Convention and Beyond:

President, Pastors' Conference, Southern Baptist Convention, 1997

Chairman, Executive Committee, Southern Baptist Convention, June,1995 thru June, 1997 (Served as a member of this committee from 1988-1998)

Program and Structure Study Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention which restructured the entire Southern Baptist Convention

Search Committee for the President-CEO of the Executive Committee of the Southern
Baptist Convention

SBC Liason Committee of the Executive Committee with the Baptist General
Convention of Virginia
*Served as officer of Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention

Executive Board, Arkansas Baptist State Convention

Past President of the Pastors' Conference, Arkansas Baptist State Convention, 1989

Board of Trustees, GuideStone Financial Resources, June, 2001 - June, 2009, serving on Administrative Committee, Executive Compensation Committee, and Vision Committee

Board of Trustees, Liberty University, October, 2002 - present, serving as Chairman of the Liberty Theological Seminary Subcommittee Chairman, Great Commission Resurgence Task Force, Southern Baptist Convention, June 2009 - June 2010


Places of Ministry:

First Baptist Church - Cherokee, Texas (1976-1978)

First Baptist Church - Milford, Texas (1978-1981)

First Baptist Church - Palacios, Texas (1981-1984)

First Baptist Church - Nederland, Texas (1984-1986)

First Baptist Church - Springdale, Arkansas (1986-present)

Dr. Floyd's ministry as a local church pastor has been one of commitment to evangelism, discipleship, and the advancement of the gospel to America and around the world. In Dr. Floyd's almost 24 years of ministry in Springdale, the church's membership has grown from 3,700 to over 20,000 total members. The church has baptized over 16,000 persons in these almost 24 years. In August of 2001, the church began an additional location, The Church at Pinnacle Hills, which he pastors weekly in addition to the First Baptist Church of Springdale, Arkansas. Since the Pinnacle Hills location was added, the church has planted an additional 34 churches regionally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Floyd also serves as the Host-Leader-Speaker of the "The Summit: The Business-Persons Luncheon of Northwest Arkansas," equipping an estimated 400-700 businesspersons weekly. In the present year, the ministry consists of one church meeting in many locations, with 16 sites, two campuses, and 15 church plants being invested in and launched globally.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Informative Read, October 17, 2008

By 

Clement Pang (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gay Agenda: It's Dividing the Family, the Church, and a Nation (Hardcover)

A voice of truth speaking from a solid understanding of scripture and the matter at stake. The heart of Floyd's message is of love, that we must fight the destruction that sin brings but show the love that Jesus had towards sinners.

Not an in-depth analysis of the biblical and theological arguments against homosexuality but a wake-up call to the slippery slope that we are falling into.

10 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The Book Title Makes the Author's Views Clear, June 10, 2009

By 

Hedgetiggy - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gay Agenda: It's Dividing the Family, the Church, and a Nation (Hardcover)

Ironically, Mr. Floyd speaks out against the extreme hatred shown by some against homosexuals, even as he furthers that same hatred with his own views. He even goes so far, on page #11, to call the issue a "war". He also claims that one must seek to speak "the truth" with "love", as though his is the only truth, and as though he does not mean any harm by expressing his views as he does.

As is typical of this sort of doublespeak, he goes on to blame the ostracism that can be suffered by gays, and the rifts torn in families of gays who come out, upon the so-called "gay agenda", instead of where it belongs--upon the divisive, alienating attitude Mr. Floyd and many others of his ilk espouse. He claims to be made "sick at heart" by the suffering caused by the hatred against homosexuals, even as he himself helps to contribute to that hatred with his views!

He has a very conservative Christian outlook upon the subject and takes a very condescending tone, as though he is gently admonishing and guiding a wayward young child who just doesn't know any better. Much as Sears and Osten do in their book "The Homosexual Agenda", Floyd attempts to misdirect and overdramatize what is happening. He does this to support his theory that there is some grand agenda being enacted by the gays. Of course in reality, those of the glbt merely wish for the same rights as anyone else.

In summary, I support Mr. Floyd's right to express his views, especially in conjunction with his faith. The problem I have with his book is how he goes about expressing those views. If he is going to use his faith and his bible as a means by which to discriminate, he should at least stick solely to such, and not muddy his point with the misdirection, misinformation, and condenscendion he has filled his book with.

27 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars review of Dr. Floyd's book: "The Gay Agenda", August 2, 2005

By 

I. Thomas (Dallas-Fort Worth, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gay Agenda: It's Dividing the Family, the Church, and a Nation (Hardcover)

I used to be a member of Ronnie Floyd's church (First Baptist of Springdale, Arkansas) back in 1995. I also served as the pianist for his Sunday school class back then. I have since moved to Texas but recently saw that Dr. Floyd had a new book entitled, "The Gay Agenda" so I purchased a copy of the book and read it in one sitting. I am a Christian and I also happen to be gay. I tried to read the book with an open mind. There were things that I agreed with in the book an things that I disagreed with. I was fairly certain of what Dr. Floyd's perspective would be regarding the issue of homosexuality. What stunned me was how Dr. Floyd took historical issues and twisted them to fit his concept that homosexuality has caused many societies to fall (see page 123). Floyd says, "The fact is, no culture in history that has embraced homosexuality has long survived. The gay lifestyle is not the way to build a healthy society." First off, the societies that he mentions (Canaan, Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Greece and Rome--see pg. 122) did not fall into ruin BECAUSE of homosexuality. That is a LONG stretch to assert something like that, in fact, it causes Dr. Floyd to be guilty of the very things he accuses gays of doing...stretching the facts to fit a certain agenda.
Dr. Floyd talks on page 95 about how "pro-family" fathers and mothers are busy with their daily routines: "working, taking care of children, church activities..." and are therefore at a "disadvantage" to the "pro-gay" individuals who are "married to their cause." But, I know plenty of "pro-family" gay and lesbian men and women who are ALSO raising their families, working, and yes they are even going to church. I was offended that Dr. Floyd presumed that those who support gay civil rights are not "pro-family" because that is simply not true. In fact, a lot of the people who are voicing their concerns about this issue are doing so BECAUSE of their families and the fact that they want the same rights to take care of their loved ones as everyone else has.
I did agree with Dr. Floyd on the fact that this issue simply cannot be compared to The Civil Rights Movement (see pages 85-87). I am African-American and gay too, so I speak from experience. The basic differences between the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s and the civil rights movement for GLBT people are that gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people have the right to vote in order to help change issues--whereas Blacks did not. GLBT people are not segregated like Blacks were during the Civil Rights movement ("colored" and "Whites")...we don't have to worry about whether we can take a drink out of the same water fountain as Blacks in the 50s and 60s did, or whether we can use a public swimming pool. But the biggest difference is that a Black person cannot hide who they are...our skin color immediately gives us away, MOST gays aren't as "obvious" to the public at large as a person who is Black. So I agree with Dr. Floyd that The Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s is not the same as the one today. Yes, there are similarities because we are fighting to have the same rights as married couples have. I hope you understand what I am saying here. The gay marriage issue IS a civil rights issue, just not on the same level as The Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s. The bottom line for me is this: John 3:16 says: "For God so loved the WORLD that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH in Him shall NOT perish but have everlasting life." The Bible tells us that WHOSOEVER believeth in Jesus will not perish. And the Bible also tells us: "There is NO ONE righteous, not even one..."--Romans 3:10. So I choose love. I choose to show the grace and mercy of Christ. That's not "justifying" any kind of lifestyle, it's choosing compassion over hatred, mercy over self-righteousness...I believe the way to reach people is through compassion, not continually trying to judge people or condemn them. The Bible says in Matthew 7:3 "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but don't consider the beam that is in your own eye?" Jesus Christ was the best example of love and compassion. I understand that a lot of the issues in the Bible are interpreted differently...if this were not the case then we would not have so many religious denominations in America. We have all these denominational differences because people believe differently about the way the Bible is to be interpreted etc. I do appreciate that Dr. Floyd tried to give a balanced perspective in his book about the church needing to be loving toward the GLBT community and his admittance that most of Christendom despises homosexuals (pg. 101)and that ought not be so. In closing, I want to say this: Moses was a murderer (see Exodus 2:11-14), King David was an adulterer and murderer (see 2 Samuel chapter 11), Saul (same as Paul) was a persecutor of Christians (see Acts 7:57-8:1 and Acts 9:13), Rahab was a prostitute (See Joshua chapter 2). But it is VERY clear that God used these men and women for good also. I need not go into explanation of the good deeds they did other than to say (10 commandments/Red Sea for Moses; "A man after God's own heart" for King David (see 1 Samuel 13:13-14); Paul wrote a vast portion of the New Testament; and Rahab is in the lineage of Jesus (see Matthew 1:5). Again, this is not to justify sin...but it IS to say that God can USE anyone He so chooses to use...even a homosexual. If He can use murderers and prostitutes...He can use anyone. I want to add that I DO understand that these men and women displayed a changed lifestyle...but they also sinned during their "call" from God also. I don't have time to go into all that at length. But I would be very cautious with whom I pointed the finger and called unrighteous. Remember this one thing: when Jesus was born God did not choose the high and mighty religious leaders to announce Jesus' birth to...God chose the outcast...the shepherds in the field...the ones that no one gave a second thought about. We might be wise to understand that in almost EVERY instance in the Bible, Jesus took a different path than the one that seemed obvious to everyone. We have come to equate people who are in the majority as being "right" and it just isn't the case. Just because the majority of religious people believe homosexuals are doomed to Hell doesn't make it RIGHT. Just because you can go to the Bible and throw out verses at us doesn't make you right. Even if homosexuality IS a sin...how can we be assured that everyone will be healed? People die of cancer, Alzheimer's and AIDS everyday and God didn't deliver them from that...so what about when God doesn't deliver a homosexual? (assuming you are in the group that believes it is a sin)...what then? That's why I adhere to 2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." The Lord looks at the HEART...remember that if you remember nothing else. The Lord also responds to FAITH...remember John 3:16 and the thief upon the cross. "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right...think about such things." God's grace is sufficient.